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In what ways can I improve my writing mechanics?
May 11, 2019 at 9:57 pm
This is probably a really stupid question. But here it goes....
I am currently a Graduate student. I consistently get A's and B's in my courses. However, whenever I write a paper I get absolutely destroyed on the writing mechanics on the rubric. I always try to use 3rd party services which check for grammar. However, even in this case those services can only get me so far. My parents also review my papers as well when I ask them to. They both have PhD's. So they do know their stuff. But again, even that can only take me so far.
Anyways, what would you recommend I do to hone these skills? Because I obviously have not had issue with comprehending material, but as previously stated professors often pick on my grammar in papers. Understandably.
Better there than here where all my stuff is
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RE: In what ways can I improve my writing mechanics?
May 11, 2019 at 10:13 pm
Firstly, anyways is not proper word usage. It's anyway.
Practice, practice, practice.
Then I would say to ask the professor what it was that caused the low score on writing mechanics.
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RE: In what ways can I improve my writing mechanics?
May 11, 2019 at 11:11 pm
Grammar is not all that important in the real world, unless you are planning on entering a field of work associated with English and literature. I am also certain a history professor is going to be less concerned with grammar than historical facts, because chances are s/he does not understand grammar as well as an English teacher. I would not worry about it too much so long as you are doing well enough in the area. Perfection, after all, is unnecessary.
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RE: In what ways can I improve my writing mechanics?
May 11, 2019 at 11:30 pm
(May 11, 2019 at 11:11 pm)Fierce Wrote: Grammar is not all that important in the real world, unless you are planning on entering a field of work associated with English and literature. I am also certain a history professor is going to be less concerned with grammar than historical facts, because chances are s/he does not understand grammar as well as an English teacher. I would not worry about it too much so long as you are doing well enough in the area. Perfection, after all, is unnecessary.
Being able to write properly is important depending on what your profession will be. Many job listings specify the need to be able to communicate well both verbally and in written communication. How you speak when having a beer with your buddies is a whole different thing.
Being in graduate school indicates a high level of education and people are going to expect a person at that level to be capable of writing properly.
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RE: In what ways can I improve my writing mechanics?
May 12, 2019 at 5:16 am
(This post was last modified: May 12, 2019 at 5:43 am by Homeless Nutter.)
(May 11, 2019 at 9:57 pm)GODZILLA Wrote: [...]Anyways, what would you recommend I do to hone these skills? Because I obviously have not had issue with comprehending material, but as previously stated professors often pick on my grammar in papers. Understandably.
Read. A lot. And I mean - books, not blogs. Written by educated authors and published by companies, that can afford employing competent editors.
Despite of what some people will say - being able to write at a high level can be extremely important, especially if your aspirations are higher than waiting tables. People are judged on their ability to communicate, in the same way they're judged on - say - their appearance. It's ok if you want to look scruffy at a job interview, or write your CV in text-speak, but most potential employers will prejudge and penalize you for it - even if they won't say it outright. And in the academic world good penmanship is understandably even more important, because poor grammar and spelling often indicate, that the student doesn't read much and professors hate that.
Personally - I was educated in the times just before the use of computers became widespread in my country, so I had to hand-write all my school-work and papers. My cursive is so atrocious, that even I'm unable to read it. It cost me a lot at the time, in terms of test-grades but I refused to work on it - and I got away with it most of the time, mainly because otherwise I usually excelled academically. And now hand-writing is a dying skill... Who's laughing now?
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RE: In what ways can I improve my writing mechanics?
May 12, 2019 at 6:23 am
i would help but am dyslexic and i have no clue in what i need to work on never mind what you need to work on my grammar is shit as well
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RE: In what ways can I improve my writing mechanics?
May 12, 2019 at 7:26 am
There are forums that help with writing. Google can help you find them.
